Last week, I was wandering around a party supply store anxiously preparing for a New Year's Eve party with my sweet sister, Madison. For many years we have celebrated the New Year in Hot Springs, Arkansas. As we have grown up, Madison and I have enjoyed making sure we have proper decorations to make the celebrations even that much more fun. We especially love the giant number balloons that are so IN right now...I mean, they even have their own Snapchat and Instagram filters during the holidays. Anyway, as I walked around the shop and looked at all the different decorations, I thought how fun it would be to be in that business, right? Confetti, balloons, streamers, noisemakers, hats, and more!

I could not take my eyes off of this giant ball of ribbon. I am assuming it is used for something related to balloons. But, being the OCD individual I am, I was freaked out at how easily it looked like the whole thing could fall apart at just any minute. All someone would have to do is pull the ribbon the wrong way and BOOM they would have it all over the place. What a mess that would be!

We finished our shopping and stuffed the balloons in the car. I moved on from the near disaster they had on their hands at the store with that ribbon, but later that night as I was laying in bed, my mind wondered back to that giant ball of ribbon. I am serious, thinking about it made me cringe a little. I realized that I have more in common with that big ball of beautiful ribbon than I would like to admit.

You see that ribbon was sitting there perfectly fine. The workers were using it as normal. They were surely used to it! But if someone wanted to make a mess of it, they easily could. That ribbon was holding itself together. It didn't need to be bothered, but if it was in the slightest, it could really start to unravel.

Now, you may think I am silly comparing myself to a ball of ribbon, but I had this oddly accurate realization that I could relate to this ribbon. You see over the past year it has been easy for me to hold it all together, or atleast make it look like I had it all together. Appearances are no problem! There were very few things that could cause me to outwardly unravel, but when would I think about the things that were bothering me, and dwell on them, that is when I would completely fall apart, just like this ribbon would if someone started pulling on it.

For me, I could see areas and instances in my life where certain things or thoughts of certain people would cause me nothing but negativity in my head. And, that is exactly what the devil was trying, and still tries, to do. He knows what makes us weak. He knows our pressure points and he wants to push on those until we completely cannot take it anymore. In my life, it is always focusing on others approval or disapproval of me. He so enjoys putting those negative thoughts in my head... making me overthink. It always gets to me. But I will say that seeing this ball of ribbon in this little party shop taught me something pretty cool. Seeing something for what it is, like the devil trying to pull me apart just perfectly by nagging on something so sensitive makes it that much easier to fight him and not let him win.

A lot of life is fighting against whatever or whoever (in my case the Devil) you believe is trying to bring you down. These days I am doing everything I can to fight against him and rely on God to help me always see the positive. Seeing what I am fighting against, in a party shop of all places, gave me a good start to 2018!

I want to thank all of you who have encouraged and said such kind things to me about my blog post the other day. It really made me feel good to share what 2017 was like for me, but also receiving such wonderful support warmed my heart. I hope everyone is off to a great start in this new year AND I hope you will not let someone or something pull on a part of your ribbon that breaks you down! You are beautiful, full, and just as complex as that shiny ribbon....no need to let anyone or thing mess you up. We have so much to be thankful for!

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Blessed is an understatement when it comes to my life. Each and every day I am amazed by God's steadfast love. In return, I have claimed this space to show my thanks and whatever else comes along the way. A student at Texas Christian University who loves any creative insta post, all donuts, and dress pants that make you do a double take. I pray God has a grand purpose for me and I plan to get there with a little Southern and a lot of Thanks! Join me!